Aloha nui loa to all on this Saturday Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
Our Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.) honor Jesus and Mary as twin pillars of our spirituality. They are the models of God’s compassionate love in the world for us. We try to follow in their footsteps, doing the same.
These two days, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (yesterday) and the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the BVM (today) remind us that the words “sacred” and “immaculate” have spiritual meaning for all of us. Something that is “sacred” has a certain mana (power) to change things for the good. And, the word “immaculate” connotes purity and sinlessness in God.
Scripture today speaks of the sacredness and purity of God’s mercy and faithfulness. They speak of Mary’s faithfulness to God’s word and the mana (power) of her son, Jesus, who taught with the authority of God.
Scripture:
“Yet my mercy I will not take from him, nor will I belie my faithfulness. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.” (Psalm 89)
“Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God and pondered it in her heart.” (Luke 2)
“They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2)
A Personal Reflection from Fr. Brian:
In Hawaiian culture, Mana is spiritual energy of power and strength, it exists in objects and persons. It is the Hawaiian belief that there is a chance to gain mana and lose mana in different things that you do. It is also the Hawaiian belief that mana is an external as well as an internal thing.
“Mana” is a force that we call “spirit”.
The Spirit of our God and Lord is present all around us and within us. It manifests itself through the example of others. In Mary, we have this revelation of God’s power through a woman. This is a very powerful force that we need to tap into to deal with the things that challenge us daily.
Let us allow the spirit of Mary to seep deeper into our psyches and help us to cope with life’s challenges!
Amen
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai